Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a deal was signed with Sweden for 16 Gripen-E fighters as a part of the air force modernisation.
Ukraine is shifting to Western platforms for its air force, starting with the F-16, and is acquiring its second type as the Swedish Gripen light fighter. The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy added that 16 Gripen-C/D fighters will be delivered as interim fighters in 2027 before the delivery of the newer and more capable Gripen-E.
Gripen-E, alongside the twin-seater variant Gripen-F, is the latest iteration of the Gripen light fighter line. The upgrades of Gripen-E over Gripen-C include Raven ES-05 AESA radar with pivoting capabilities, Skyward-G IRST, and F414G turbofan engine, providing improvement in performance over the earlier RM12 turbofan. Additionally, the fuel capacity has been increased, and two hardpoints have been added with a structural rework. The Brazilian Air Force currently operates the fighter as the F-39E and is entering service with Thailand.
Compared to the modernised F-16 AM/BMs, the Gripen-E has its most prominent edge as air-to-air capability thanks to the Raven ES-05 AESA radar and Skyward-G IRST. While the weapons are not known yet, it is possible to see newer missiles like Meteor, considering the fact that Brazil has been provided with the ramjet-powered BVRAAM. The subject of long-range engagement matters as a better response against Russian aircraft (MiG-31, Su-35) armed with long-range air-to-air missiles like R-37M.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
